Exploring holistic options

Fats in foods, sweeteners, anti-aging secrets, childhood vaccines, food sensitivities — these were among the variety of topics discussed at a March 12 online chat conducted by holistic practitioner Fran Sussman of Fran Sussman Holistic Services in Chester.

Fats in foods, sweeteners, anti-aging secrets, childhood vaccines, food sensitivities — these were among the variety of topics discussed at a March 12 online chat conducted by holistic practitioner Fran Sussman of Fran Sussman Holistic Services in Chester.

Here's a partial edited transcript of readers' questions, along with Sussman's answers.

To view the complete chat transcript, go to recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130312/WS/130319958&cid=sitesearch.

Q. I read in your column today (March 12) that you're supposed to eat plenty of oil every day, in addition to nuts. My problem is that I am on a diet and oils and nuts are so high calorie, I don't want to waste calories on them so I avoid them.

A. As I've always said, losing weight is not about calories. It's about dense nutrition, and healthy fats are very much a part of that. There are numerous studies showing that people who eat healthy oils and nuts actually lose weight, not gain it.

When I refer to nuts, I'm referring to those that grow on trees — almonds, cashews, macadamia, walnuts, pecans, Brazil nuts, etc. Peanuts are not a nut, they are a legume. You may remember years ago there was a lot of news about aflatoxins in peanuts. That's a mold, and it's still an issue. Peanuts are a very common problem for people who are chronically ill or trying to lose weight, and most people, I find, do better by eliminating them and switching to nuts and nut butters.

A. Good question! It's all about the basics: a minimum of eight hours of sound sleep, healthy nutrition with minimal junk, plenty of good-quality water, appropriate exercise. I don't think supplements are the answer. I think it's more about lifestyle, and anybody can make positive changes at any age.

Q. Is high fructose corn syrup really bad, and why? You see all the commercials saying it's bad, and then the ones for corn syrup that say it's just from corn and not bad. Is stevia or agave a better sweetener?

A. Yes, it really is. And unfortunately, most agave is, too. If you're trying to lose weight, or if you're dealing with any chronic illness, the only sweeteners you should use are stevia or xylitol. Erythritol is also looking very promising, as more research emerges. I don't think there's anything wrong with having a little bit of sugar sometimes, but keep in mind that everything has consequences. Stevia and xylitol have really good consequences;

xylitol has many therapeutic benefits. Sugar, whether brown, organic, natural, etc., and also honey, agave, maple syrup, etc., are all understood pretty much the same way by your body, and most of us do not need additional sugar in our diets.

Q. What do you suggest for people who suffer with fibromyalgia with IBS-c (irritable bowel syndrome with constipation)? Any special diet or supplements?A. Obviously, I can't do individual treatment online today. I would certainly recommend cleaning up your diet, reducing stress, getting enough rest, but there can be so many different underlying factors for these issues. I believe one of the reasons I am successful with my clients is because I take a thorough history and individualize everything, in terms of recommendations.

Q. So stevia and xylitol are OK. If my stomach reacts to sugar alcohols, is xylitol a sugar alcohol?A. I find that when people have gastrointestinal upset from xylitol, it is almost always because they have unaddressed gut issues. If you clean up the gut, identify and eliminate food sensitivities, and do some repair, usually xylitol is tolerated with no problem whatsoever. So, it's not that xylitol is causing the problem – it's pointing to another problem. Xylitol is sometimes called a sugar alcohol or a poly sugar. It is naturally present in many foods and in our own bodies.

Q. Do you have any suggestions for how to manage gastric reflux?A. Usually it has to do with an underlying problem of food sensitivities. Again, I would look to that and supplements that help heal the mucosal lining of the gut. Most common food sensitivities are gluten, dairy, peanuts, corn, soy and eggs. I've been very successful helping people with this. It's not usually a difficult problem, but we have to identify exactly what the issue is for you.

Q. What are your views on vaccines, especially for children?A. This is a very difficult question, and one that each parent must make their own peace with. What I recommend is, that you do the research on the risk of the disease, the risk of the illness, both in terms of contracting it and in terms of treating it, and the risk and effectiveness of the vaccination, and then decide what you can best live with for your child(ren). Unfortunately in New York state, we are not legally allowed to partially vaccinate, and the only exemption is a religious exemption, which is difficult to prove. If you send me an email, I can recommend a good book, or look on my website. It has a lot of good information that will help you with this process in an impartial way. Email is fran@fransussman.com. Website is fransussman.com.

Q. Is there anything that can help with schizoaffective disorder? Anything that can help stop hearing voices? Someone very close to me is suffering and won't get help.A. I would consider anything I could suggest adjunctive to appropriate medical treatment. However, there is some interesting research on the connections between gluten-sensitivities and schizoaffective disorder. Most people don't realize that gluten causes inflammation in the brain, and 70 percent of people who are gluten-sensitive do not have GI symptoms, but have mental or emotional symptoms.

Q. What do you recommend for high cholesterol?A. As today's (March 12) column discusses, the best approach is to have healthy fats, good quality lean protein and reduce refined and processed carbohydrates, which are the real causes of high cholesterol. Instead of processed carbs, have more healthy fat and some complex carbs from real food, like sweet potatoes, carrots, apples, berries, squash, etc.

There are also some very safe, natural supplements that help clients lower cholesterol more quickly as they are changing their nutrition. I have had many clients who were unsuccessful using statins, but were able to lower their cholesterol dramatically with lifestyle changes – and they felt so much better, too.

Coming next Tuesday: Part 2 of the chat with holistic practitioner Fran Sussman includes questions on resisting sugary foods, treating ADHD without medicines, gastric upsets and balancing hormones.